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We thought we would start this off. What did you think of this morning's, 5th June, phone in on Radio 5 was it good ? did it raise awareness ? did it capture the issues ? I decided to phone in to raise awareness of eczema and this site. I was a bag of nerves speaking to Nicki Campbell! Let us know what you think

Betty - I have managed to copy this across from the BBC News site What do you think?

Scientists are warning that peanuts and peanut oils may cause allergies in children with eczema. They found that 90% of children with peanut allergies had previously had eczema.

Peanut allergy can cause anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.

The link between the two conditions has not yet been confirmed, but scientists have speculated that exposing broken skin to peanuts or peanut oils - otherwise known as arachis oils - could spark off the allergy.

We are currently looking into whether exposure of the skin to products containing peanuts or peanut oils may be responsible for starting peanut allergies

Dr Gideon Lack, St Mary's Hospital However, allergy experts have said parents should not change their habits until the full details of the research have been revealed.

The study has also found as many as one in 100 children may have peanut allergies - previous estimates had suggested the figure may be one in 200.

The findings on eczema and peanut allergy were discussed at conference on child health on Monday, which marked a 10-year-long research study called Children of the 90s, is following 12,000 children and their parents from the Bristol area.

Otherwise known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), it is looking at the genetic and environmental causes of conditions including asthma, food allergies, depression and cerebral palsy.

He said: "In eczema, the skin barrier breaks down and there is an abundance of immune cells in the skin that could be exposed to substances that cause allergies.

"We are currently looking into whether exposure of the skin to products containing peanuts or peanut oils may be responsible for starting peanut allergies."

Dr Lack also suggested that recent research contradicts the Department of Health's current advice to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to avoid peanuts.

His research has found the amount of peanuts eaten by mothers during pregnancy and whilst breast feeding makes no difference to whether or not the child develops a peanut allergy.

Re-evaluation

David Reading, director of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said he was not surprised to hear of the increase in the numbers of children with peanut allergies, and said the finding suggested all schools should have a policy to deal with anaphylactic shock.

He said: "If these findings are proved to be the case, then there will most certainly have to be a re-evaluation of the creams that are on the market, and Department of Health guidelines would have to be changed."

But he said parents should not make any changes until the full results were known.

A spokeswoman for the National Eczema Society said they would not be able to comment until they had seen the full study.

Eczema 'cause'

Professor Marcus Pembrey, director of genetics for ALSPAC, said research has revealed more about why certain children may develop eczema in the first place.

He told BBC News Online he and Dr Robin Callard from the Institute of Child Health found a variation in a gene called IL4 receptor, which 6% of the general population have.

"We showed that this predisposed children to develop eczema, but only in those children who hadn't had infections, and had been given antibiotics, in their first six months."

"Having this genetic variation does not automatically mean you get eczema - only in certain circumstances."

ALSPAC is about to receive £13m of funding from the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council and Bristol University, enabling it to continue its work for another five years.

It is also carrying out other studies - including one into whether women with high testosterone levels have girls with tomboy behaviour.

My eldest son is peanut allergic and had eczema as a baby. I know I used Kamillosan once or twice which used to have peanut oil in. They then withdrew it and reintroduced it without the peanut oil. I don't know which version I used on Harry - but I guess it must have been the first one.

Has anyone got a definitive list of creams containing arachis/peanut oil? With my 2nd son I read labels like crazy and avoid any I come across. But there used to be a 25% rule that any ingredient constituting less than 25% didn't have to be declared. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

I use Unguentum Merck on Ned at present, but have used a huge variety over the past 9 months including Epaderm, Diprobase, Aveeno, Oilatum bath, Eucerin, Balneum plus etc etc etc. To my knowledge they are arachis free -

Thought you may be interested in what the National Eczema Society said on the subject

Peanut Allergy and Eczema News reports this week have highlighted the findings of the Avon Longitudinal Study, "Children of the 90s". A high proportion of those children in the study who had an allergy to peanuts had previously had eczema. A suggestion in the reporting on this finding is that there could be a causative link between the usage of peanut extracts in emollients and the development of an allergy to peanuts.

Peanut oils are very rarely used in emollients available on prescription. Some of the products available over-the-counter may contain groundnut oil or arachis oil (refined peanut oil). The role of peanut oils in either triggering or developing peanut allergy is unclear as other clinical studies seem to demonstrate that arachis oil does not cause an allergic reaction in peanut sensitive individuals (Taylor, 1981; Nordlee, 1981; and Hourihane, 1997).

The National Eczema Society has taken a large volume of enquiries from people who have eczema or care for a child with eczema and are concerned about emollient usage.

We would encourage people to continue to use emollients to manage eczema and seek medical advice on changing product if they are concerned about the presence of peanut traces in any emollients, hair treatment or other medication they are using.

The Society suggests that if people are concerned, they should check the ingredients list, to see whether arachis oil or groundnut oil is listed. If they are in doubt about the ingredients, we suggest that they should speak to a pharmacist.

The severity of peanut allergy varies. If peanuts or peanut oil comes into contact with the skin of peanut sensitive individuals the worst reaction is likely to be swelling and irritation on that area of the skin. Reactions are less with refined peanut oil (arachis oil).If peanut sensitive individuals eat peanuts, they may vomit, or if it has passed into the bloodstream, then they may get an urticarial rash (hives). In the most severe cases, people may experience anaphylaxis - an allergic reaction that may involve the respiratory system, skin, gastro-intestinal system and cardio-vascular system.

Anaphylaxis can be triggered by a number of different allergens:

Bee, wasp, hornet stings. Foods - especially peanuts, nuts, fish, eggs, milk, fruits. Drugs - antibiotics, such as penicillin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory products including ibuprofen, aspirin and products developed for arthritis or rheumatism. Latex. Sometimes latex or food in combination with exercise or heat. Anaphylaxis can be treated once recognised and it is important to stay calm. In mild cases - where there is no sign of breathing difficulties, blue lips or fainting - antihistamines can relieve the symptoms. In severe cases, the adult or child should be taken immediately to an Accident and Emergency department. Where there is a history of anaphylaxis, an adrenaline injector is likely to be prescribed and carried around by the individual concerned.